Europees Parlement

The European Parliament recalled, in a resolution adopted today in plenary, that the human rights situation on the Crimean peninsula has significantly deteriorated following the illegal annexation of this territory by the Russian Federation.

MEP, Hans van Baalen (VVD, The Netherlands), ALDE spokesman on Russia and Ukraine, condemned the discriminatory actions against Crimea’s ethnic Tatar minority and called on Russia to immediately release all illegally and arbitrarily detained Ukrainian citizens:

“EU Member States hold firm in refusing to recognise Russia's annexation and the restrictive measures they have taken in this respect. Russia is constantly violating the Minsk agreements and international law - this has to stop. We strongly condemn the persecution of Ukrainian citizens and ethnic minorities in Crimea.Russian authorities must grant unimpeded access to Crimea for international institutions and independent experts to assess and report on the situation on the ground.”

Speaking during today’s debate on Ukrainian prisoners in Russia and the situation in Crimea, ALDE MEP, Petras Auštrevicius (Liberal Movement of Lithuania), said:

“Russia is back to its imperial military posture and we must take this seriously.

"Abkhazia and Ossetia, Transnistria and Crimea -- these are not coincidences, these are all part of a plan by the Kremlin. Just as Syria is today and Libya might be tomorrow.”